Byzantine Civilization

2.3

Background

• Split in church– Created two distinct European civilizations

• Byzantine Civilization– Orthodox– Tradition

Culture…..Unique

• Constantinople= crossroads of trade– Mixer of classic Greek and Roman ideas

• Preserving Roman law– Would have been lost without Byzantine– Justinian

• Admired order• Legal legacy was confusing…local laws, imperial laws and

judge’s decisions• Organized lawyers to organize• Unified Code- systematic body of law

Justinian Code

• Published in 529• In today’s terms seems harsh• Did protect some individual rights

– Theodora’s influence– Women rights…could inherit property

• Preserved roman legal tradition– Many nations still base legal system on roman

Law

Justinian Code

• Four Parts– The Code

• Collection of Roman laws

– The digest• Summary of writings by experts

– The Institutes• Basic principles of Roman law in textbook form for the

purpose of teaching law students

– Novels• Laws issued by Justinian

Art and Architecture

• Own style

• Hagia Sophia– Cross shaped floor plan– Topped by enormous dome

• 185 feet above floor

– Lamps hung to give golden glow

Hagia Sophia Video

Arts

• Flat and formal and religious

• Icons and mosaics– Design made with colored stones and small

pieces of glass– Backed with shimmering sheets of gold

• Mosaics glowing with rich color covered walls and domes of churches

Education and Literature

• Important aspect of civilization• Government supported schools• Older students learned philosophy, math

and music• Libraries copied and preserved

manuscripts– Handwritten documents– Homer’s epics, Greek and Roman philosophy

• Would have been lost without libraries

Spread of Byzantine Culture

• Long and Violent history– Armies had to fight off invasions– Imperial court known for plots and power

struggles• Rulers blinded, poisoned, or beheaded

• Culture still spread– How?...Two Ways, Constantinople and

Missionaries

Lure of Constantinople

• Visitors wanted to come to Constantinople– Trade was key– Scholars came to study– Artists came to work

• Byzantine leaders flaunted wealth– Elaborate ceremonies, jewels and rich clothing– Visitors took ideas and products back with them

• Venice and Ravenna outposts for art and architecture

• Russia and Ukraine took many elements

Missionary Work

• Missionaries traveled with church and Byzantine ideas

• Late 800’s– Traveled through Eastern Europe

• Home of Slavs (Russians, Serbs, Bulgarians)

Cyril and Methodius

• Most Famous Missionaries

• Came from noble family

• “Apostles of Slavs”

• 862 King of Moravia asked Emperor Michael III to send missionaries to Slavic– Cyril and Methodius sent..they knew language

• Cyril invented alphabet of Slavic Language

• Translated Bible

Cyrillic Alphabet

• Gave Slavs their first written language

• Alphabet still used today in some form– Russia, Serbian and Slavic languages

Conversion of Russians

• Inspired by Cyril and Methodius

• Missionaries traveled to North RUS (Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia)

• 988 Prince Vladimir– Sent officials to Constantinople to learn faith– Hagia Sophia dazzled them

• When they returned Prince and Russians converted

End of Empire

• Always under attack– Germanic Tribes from west took control of

some lands– East Perisan Empire constant threat– Arabs from south and Slavs from North

• Wanted rich city of Contanstinople• For centuries held their own

– City strong wall’s by land– By sea…new weapon

Greek Fire

• Chemical mixture that burned furiously– Even in water– would shoot at enemy ships– http://www.history.com/videos/greek-fire-a-bo

mb-of-the-ancients#greek-fire-a-bomb-of-the-ancients

End came Slowly

• Attackers took small bits

• Kept Constantinople

• Final Attack– Turks– Greek fire no match to the gunpowder

• Giant Canons hurled 1,200 pound balls at walls

• 1453 city fell to turks